For the fourth consecutive year, Kentucky lawmakers have rejected a bill that would provide financial compensation to individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.
House Bill 206, sponsored by Representative Jason Nemes, a Republican from Louisville, aimed to compensate exonerees for their time spent incarcerated and on parole. The bill would have also covered tuition for Kentucky colleges, health insurance and attorney fees.
Despite gaining more traction than in previous years, it ultimately failed to advance during this legislative session.
Advocates and exonerees said the bill’s failure is yet another setback for those working to rebuild their lives after wrongful convictions.
Had it passed, House Bill 206 would have provided $65,000 for each year an exoneree spent in prison. Those sentenced to death row would have received $75,000 per year. Additionally, individuals who spent time on parole, were under supervision post-incarceration, or were required to register as sex offenders would have been eligible for an additional $32,500 per year.
Payments would have been issued twice a month over three years. Additional benefits included:
Coverage of attorney fees up to $25,000.
Tuition waivers for up to 120 credit hours at public postsecondary institutions in Kentucky.
Reimbursement for restitution, fees, and court costs paid during the wrongful conviction.
Relief from child support payments that accrued during incarceration.
If an exoneree had already reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit, that amount would have been deducted from what the state was required to pay. If an exoneree sought a settlement after receiving money from the state, they would have been required to pay the settlement amount back to the state.
Source: WDRB
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